Joanna Padovano Tong

SANTA MONICA: New products based on the hit animated series Yo-kai Watch are slated to become available at such retailers as Walmart, Target, Kmart, Toys "R" Us and Hot Topic.

MELBOURNE: Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF) is producing Balloon Barnyard, a new animated preschool series, for Disney Channel Australia.

HALIFAX/LONDON: BBC Natural History Unit has partnered with DHX Media to produce The Zoo (working title), an animal-themed observational documentary series for CBBC.

SEATTLE: Amazon has unveiled details for The Kicks, a new original live-action series geared toward children between the ages of 6 and 11.

NEW YORK: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has finalized a number of agreements with broadcasters around the world for a variety of new and classic Nickelodeon animated series.

LONDON: FremantleMedia Kids & Family (FMK) has signed a co-production deal with Thai production company Shellhut Entertainment.

LONDON: Cartoon Network has given the go-ahead to a second season of the Emmy-nominated remake of The Powerpuff Girls.

LONDON: Edutainment specialist Enabling Genius has inked a deal with digital publishing partner Wisdom Edition for the preschool literacy series Phonics School in mainland China.

MUNICH: Nigeria's Suburban Fiber Company has added YFE's Fix&Foxi to its Legend portfolio, with the children's network becoming available on the multimedia service provider this month.

A spotlight on the French animation studio co-founded by Guillaume Hellouin and Corinne Kouper in 2005.